slidergirl

I found a wine window!! Turns out Babae is just down the street from Osteria Del Cinghale Bianco. People were using it.

I had my dinner at Osteria Del Cinghale Bianco tonight. Yummy to the max! Started with the ribolitta. Nice and thick. Better than what I make. Then I had the wild boar with polenta. Just the right amount to fill me up. Big chunks of boar in a good spicy (not spicy hot) sauce along side of creamy polenta. Not ashamed to say I used some bread to wipe down the bowl. A nice glass of Brunello just topped it off. It was definitely worth waiting for that 10pm reservation!

Mother Nature decided to throw some humidity with the high temps today. I still slugged out 4 miles of walking around. Drank a big bottle of water, a small bottle of water, an orange granita and a caffe latte. Got back to the hotel and drank another half of a large bottle of water. It was a successful shopping day. Found my ceramics place and picked out a chicken pitcher and a nice bowl for the wedding present and some more bottle stoppers. Crowds: it was a bit busy around the centro. The line for the Accademia wrapped around 3 sides of the building. The Uffizi was not much different. Wall to wall on Ponte Vecchio. Since I haven’t been here in summer I can’t say if it’s more crowded. I put some pics of crowd for you. Tonight is dinner at Osteria Della Cinghale Bianco. No lunch today but I did stop at my favorite gelateria on the way back. Still as good as I remember. Got a 2scoop - fior de latte and kefir/passion fruit. OOTD: the Faherty dress and my hi tops. The hi tops are great for walking on the uneven surfaces here. And the dress doesn’t show the sweat too much. Glad I listened to you all and brought dresses! crowd photos, random photos and a shot of the ceramics I bought.

Now that I’ve been out, it does seem not as crowded. The San Lorenzo market didn’t seem bad. Mercato Centrale wasn’t bad. I’ll head further into the Centro tonight and see how it is. I’m taking the midday in my room - it’s getting hard to be walking around in a city in 99+ heat. It just bakes you. I swear I have not sweat this much ever! some food porn from the Mercato: the Tagliatelle del Tartufaio was my lunch, along with an Aperol Spritz. Truffle oil was drizzled on top of the salad. Yumskers.

If you do a day trip to Florence, I will also recommend dropping into the Mercato Centrale and eating lunch upstairs at any of the food places offered. And have your beer, wine, or spritz there, too. If you want some food-oriented souvenirs, lots to choose from downstairs. I go crazy in there each time I go to Florence.

If you happen to be taking a train in/out of Florence and want to grab a bite, I’ll recommend the Antica Porchetteria Graniera 1916. It’s right across from the station, before you get to the 24 hr McDonalds. The pig in the window called to me. I went there for dinner. He does takeaway. It was excellent porchetta. A bunch of ways to get your sandwich: I got mine with yellow raisins and nuts, the “1916”. It just sounded good, and it was!!

I’ll let you know more after my walk about tomorrow. To me, the station didn’t seem overly crowded. I’m staying at the Market Urban hotel. Near mercato centrale and the station. A cute little place. My single room is bigger than the barge cabin was and it has a double bed. Love the digital thermostat! Same one was at the Aemelia in Bologna. I’m starting to warm up to not having to stay at my usual chain places. Makes traveling a little more affordable. 90 degrees at 8:30pm. I may venture out. With my walking and the heat, I better lose some weight!!!

I have a spot in Florence where I have bought before. They will personalize pieces. Also there is Montelupo, a little train ride from Florence. Been to a few places there a few years ago and bought a few pieces. Moose had a few sips of that spritz. Hitting up Mo! Mortadella Lab was actually my big food place to find. A girlfriend and her chef husband told me to try it. I think I will wander tonight and see what eats call to me. Moose guarded the luggage everyone stored by my seat on the train. No theft attempts made 😉

I drove all day today just to get a/c. Nove closes up at 1:30 and I got there at 2. Oh well, other places up my sleeve for ceramics. Got my usual caprese sandwich at a stop at my fav place on the highway, Autogrill. When I got back to Bologna I went on a hunt for the Mo! Mortadella Lab for dinner. A hole in the wall on a side street, worth the hunt. Got the #11 - mortadella with cheese and eggplant. Sooo good! I head down to Florence tomorrow. Yee Haw! here’s some junk food porn. And Moose says hi. I think he’s addicted to those Aperol Spritzes😉

The women at the museum told me a new one is coming - done in Cherry wood barrels. Keep an eye on the web site for it. I’m going to buy when I get home. Free shipping and I don’t have to stuff it somewhere in my bag.

I just have to win the lotto.

On the clothes topic: I wanted to say that my Woolx sleeveless T-shirts are worth the money. Been wearing them except when I wear a dress. Love them! I brought the Bella sleeveless tunics - they are more like a slightly longer shirt, not a thigh- length tunic. Perfect with shorts and pants and overalls. And, they don’t stink when you’ve worn it all day in 100+ weather!!! I definitely recommend them if you need to buy for the Summer. The Faherty dress is another winner. Another worth the money when it’s 100+ degrees. So happy I bit the bullet and bought it.

I was going to bring this up before I saw your post. I’m in Bologna right now. On the news 2 nights ago it was mentioned. Not going to make cruisers used to bringing big checked bags very happy. Glad I packed in a carry on size bag for my month long trip!

@bennybear - I drove to Spilamberto today and found the Balsamic Vinegar Museum. Very interesting with how that DOP is so hand made. I got to sample a 12 and 25 year old- surprised at the difference. The women in the office told me to go down to street to a gelateria and get some balsamic gelato. One said to get it with the ricotta,honey and nut gelato. It was sooo good! I saw a jewelry store by the museum but I didn’t go in because I saw too many things I wanted in the windows!

102 today at the Ferrari Museum. Good thing I could dawdle in there. I found the balsamic vinegar museum that Bennybear mentioned. It was interesting and came with a sampling of a 12 and 25 year old vinegars. I could really tell the difference in the aging. I could smell the balsamic outside 2 doors down. I could work in that building forever. The women who work there told me to walk down the block to a gelateria that has a balsamic gelato. And, if she had it to pair with the ricotta, honey and nuts. OMG!! Both were sooooo good, especially on this 102 day. I didn’t have the Euros to do a drive around Maranello in a Ferrari, but I did get to sit in one. I almost couldn’t get out of it- it sits even lower than my TT did! Trying to decide what to do tomorrow since it is going to be even hotter. Go up Faena and Volpe and do some ceramics shopping or head to Ravenna and dip my feet in the Adriatic. I will decide at breakfast tomorrow.

My scouting of young women in Bologna: lots of shorts, from unhemed denim to ditzy prints. Short skirts. T-shirts. Tank tops and sleeveless T-shirt (my go to). Surprisingly many midriff baring shirts. Right now in the breakfast room I see 4 bare midriffs, one with a baggy pair of cargo pants. Women are in jeans, denim shorts, few dresses, T-shirts. Me? I’m in my black Chico’s lightweight cargo bermudas, my violet Woolx sleeveless T (yes, wool, and NOT hot at all after 2 weeks) and my hi tops. Just reporting what I have seen. Hope it helps.

That’s why they called him “McDreamiest”. I knew the show but totally lost the name. He was really nice. Watched the jousting and fireworks with us. Would come out and talk with us when we were hanging out on the main deck aft patio. It’s just him and his deckhand, Thomas, so he was always very hands on with maintenance and such. Barges are very intimate so you interact with everyone in a casual manner. The fires aren’t affecting me. I did just see that a few have popped up in Tuscany. The heat and fires are terrible. Planes can’t fly in places because the runways are melting (!), trains having issues because rails are buckling. Heard that about Great Britain. The heat is just oppressive for me. Can only go so long before I go back to the hotel. What I noticed today was one of the few wearing a hat. Weird. My day bag gets rather heavy with the water I carry but it’s a necessity. Cynthia - I saw a message today that, due to major luggage issues at Schiopol that only carry on will be allowed on flights. Yikes! That’s going to put a kink in a lot of people’s vacation plans!!! some random pics from Bologna. No food porn yet. But one of the most interesting fountain porn. Anatomically correct guy, ladies with water flowing out the boobs….

Re the lavender fields: I guess farmers will allow folks to go in the fields until it is abused. I was going to take a photo of all the people in the first field. I guess these folks don’t worry about bees. I forgot to mention the wonderful mix of women on the barge. My roommate and I were the only 2 solos. 2 friends from Chicago who were never seen without a glass of wine. A couple from Los Angeles who married the first day it was legal in CA. 2 longtime friends from Oxnard, CA who always take a trip together. 2 sisters, 1 who was 93 years old! She out walked and out biked everyone. I only hope that I am that vigorous at that age! It’s a kind of down day. Staying out of the heat and going out later. Did I mention that the ladies, started by the Chicago 2, called our Captain “Captain McDreamiest”? A play on Dr. McDreamy on that tv hospital show. No trip pics today so I figured I’d post this. What do you think?

The train won’t be any of those if denied boarding because you didn’t have a KN95 mask😛

Well, it has to do with being prepared to take the train between Rome and Civi. it is mentioned multiple times on the Trenitalia site. I heard it on the PA systems in the Milano and Bologna stations.

I have been using my Anker Power Port 6 for the past 2 weeks in France and Italy. Just need the adapter plug and I can charge up all I need. I was on a canal barge in Southern France and it was perfect for the two of us in the cabin to charge.

NOTE: you must still have a KN95 mask to wear on all public transportation in Italy. Today, as soon as my train crossed into Italy from France, the announcement was made. They were rather assertive with people not masked.

If you’ve not been to Da Cesare, give it a try. It’s out of the tourist area but easy to get to via the #8 tram. It’s at the end of the line. Best to go with at least one more person so you can try a bunch of their antipasti. The fried gnocchi in Gorgonzola is freakin amazing. Wish I had room to try their frito mixto- people next to me had it and it looked scrumptious. Reservations absolutely necessary. I’ve been to La Pergola, but not to dine. One of the concierges took me up for a look at the view. I was staying there on an award for a Hilton employee contest.

I’m over in France now, on my way to Italy. Teens and young women are wearing short jean shorts, short tops and a variety of white sneakers, including high tops. A lot are wearing cute flouncy mini dresses with both sneakers or flat sandals.

I’m on the train now from Lyon to Bologna. It’s my relax day since it will take most of the day. I paid for Executive class so I’d have a big comfy seat and 3 meals. Basically the same time and price a flight would have been. I couldn’t smell the lavender until I stopped and got out of the car. Tons of bees, of course. Since I am allergic to the 🐝, I stayed at the start of the rows and didn’t venture in. The drive up to Lyon was a hot one. Stopped at Ponte du Garde for a look (too hot to do much more). Lots of people playing in the water. As I was l leaving, 2 buses of older folks came in, probably from a river boat. Most of them looked like they wouldn’t be able to make the unshaded walk down to the Ponte, especially in 99 degrees. Cynthia - I was so tired when I got to Lyon I didn’t get out to see anything. The restaurant at the hotel had a nice menu so I stayed there. You’d like the hotel Globe et Cecil. My single room was larger than the cabin on the barge! A nice little quirky place .